Story

With a keen eye on sustainability in every facet of our business, we grow and make best-quality blends and single varietals in limited quantities. We exist as cohesively as possible with the forces of nature on the west side of the town of Paso Robles, in the heart of the Central Coast of California.

Adhering to the belief that form follows function, Shale Oak was built by a carefully crafted team. While each individual is a strong expert in her/his respective field, the group was able to synergistically come together to plan, plant and build a vineyard, winery and tasting room that would have next to zero impact on the surrounding environment. Essential elements included sustainably farmed vineyards, a Gold LEED certified winery, an array of solar panels, daylight modeling in both the winery and tasting room, regionalistic native landscaping, as well as elutriate, rainwater reclamation and reverse-osmosis water systems.

We have two vineyards; one here at the winery, the other just a few miles away in PleasantValley. We farm both of them using sustainable practices, with careful attention paid to energy efficiency, water cleanliness and conservation, safe pest management, and wild habitat preservation. The two vineyards total about 70 acres, and are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Albariño, Viognier and Pinot Gris.

Shale Oak’s owner, Al Good, is an entrepreneurial farmer. A born and raised Virginian, he worked on both the east and west coasts early on, as an employee, a partner and eventually an owner. He developed a holistic understanding of the agriculture business along the way. Al also realized the best way to genuinely manage a business is to take care of the land that offers you fortune, while striving to deliver the absolute best product possible. His sense of stewardship is what drives Shale Oak to be an authentic sustainable vineyard and winery, make best-quality wines, and offer a uniquely educational experience to our guests.

We make wines of varietals that grow best here. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel, we offer a white blend, a Cabernet-based blend, and a Syrah-based blend. Our production is quite limited, and every bottle is made and sold exclusively here at our GuestCenter.

The Tasting Room at Shale Oak is warm and casual, but with an educational element. It is a place where you, our guest, can choose your experience – taste, tour, picnic, learn about sustainability, or simply kick back, open up your laptop, and enjoy the free WiFi. The building itself is open and airy, designed to take advantage of the day’s natural light. As our weather is ideal much of the year, we encourage guests to enjoy our courtyard, covered outdoor patio and walking paths, all created to highlight this beautiful place.